November is almost here, and with it comes a ton of holiday changes to Disney World, including to Animal Kingdom!

While the resort’s fourth theme park doesn’t offer a massive holiday event like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights, or The Festival of the Holidays, that doesn’t mean that Animal Kingdom is left out of the season’s cheer! Let’s take a look at everything changing at Animal Kingdom next month!

Merry Menagerie

Let’s begin with the Merry Menagerie, which is a daytime experience in the park’s Discovery Island area. Made up of artisan-crafted animal puppets including polar bears, reindeer, foxes, and penguins, the show wows guests with larger-than-life encounters.

Back in 2025, Chris Iannuzzi, Disney’s Live Entertainment Puppetry Director, said, “When someone reaches out to pet a polar bear, even though you can see the puppeteer right there, the puppet still feels so alive in that moment. Creating that believable interaction is a testament to not only the skill of our performers, but the power of puppetry.” 

Tree of Life Holiday Awakening

November will also see Tree of Life: Awakenings return to the park’s central icon on November 1st. The show, which Disney describes as a “dazzling visual display swarming with color and animated imagery,” usually runs about once every 10 minutes beginning at 6:10 PM and running through 7 PM or 8 PM, depending on Animal Kingdom’s hours on each day.

The Christmas Season variant of the show — Tree of Life Awakenings Holiday Edition, which sees the icon “shimmer and sparkle” each evening to a heartwarming musical score — is set to debut on November 13th.

Mickey and Minnie in Their Holiday Best

The usual Mickey and Minnie character greet at Adventurers Outpost will receive a holiday overlay featuring the duo all decked out in their holiday attire. Disney PhotoPass photo boxes will be available during the meet-and-greet, so you don’t have to worry about taking your own photos — the box will do it for you!

Santa’s Holiday Grove

Santa Claus has a new location at Animal Kingdom. Located across from Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!’s Theater in the Wild, this new trail features intermittent snow flurries, specialty food and beverage items, a seasonal soundtrack, and a meeting with Santa Claus himself!

Decorations Galore!

From a 55-foot Christmas tree at the park’s entrance to festive garlands created from recycled materials and traditional African textiles in Harambe and even seasonal touches in Pandora, Animal Kingdom will be loaded with holiday decorations! All of these seasonal additions begin November 13th! However, there’s more than just seasonal additions coming to Animal Kingdom in November.

Nomad Lounge Reservations

Nomad Lounge, which is one of our favorite places to grab a drink and food in the park, is set to offer reservations for the first time ever! From October 20th through December 18th, from 3 PM to close, Annual Passholders can order two small plates and two beverages for just $49. The deal is available to all Disney World Annual Passholders and up to three guests, but this deal does not begin until November 8th, so until then, you’ll just have to visit the restaurant on a walk-up-only basis.

You will still be able to join the walk-up waitlist after November 8th, but a reservation will secure you a spot at the lounge on the day and time you want. Reservations are still highly recommended.

Extended Evening Hours

Extended Evening Hours, the hotel perk that offers two extra hours to guests staying at Disney Deluxe Tier or Deluxe Villa resorts at select theme parks on select evenings after the park closes to the general public, will be available at Animal Kingdom on the following dates in November: 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th from 6 PM to 8 PM.

The Extended Evening Hours perk is available to guests at the following hotels:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
• Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort (The extended evening theme park hours benefit applies to Disney Vacation Club Cabins only.)
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
• Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort

In addition, as always, guests at all levels of Disney World hotels have access to Early Entry at Animal Kingdom throughout November. This perk affords them exclusive access to certain lands, rides, and attractions at each of Walt Disney World’s four theme parks half an hour before the general public.

If you’re heading to Animal Kingdom this November, be prepared for a litany of seasonal changes and special offers! Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney World’s offerings!

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Heading to Disney World this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below.